Creel

ABSTRACT

A creel for supporting a plurality of spools of filamentary matter comprising a plurality of spool holders extending generally horizontally to receive spools of filamentary matter thereon, the spool holders extending generally horizontally and disposed in an arcuate array about a focal take-off element. Multiple arcuate arrays are disposed in staggered back-to-back relation to develop close packing of the arrays and provide a creel which effects a substantial saving of space while simultaneously exposing each of the spool holders for ready access for loading spools of filamentary matter thereon.

United States Patent Bock 1 Sept. 12, 1972 CREEL [72] Inventor: Elmer E.Bock, Knoxville, Tenn. 52 gft' g ?lP gf fi s lf orne-rc, ven, am ueea[73] Assignee: Textile Machinery Company, Inc., y

Chattanooga, Tenn. 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1971 A creel for supporting aplurality of spools of filamen- 211 App] 19 52 tary matter comprising aplurality of spool holders extending generally horizontally to receivespools of filamentary matter thereon, the spool holders extending [52]US. Cl ..242/l3l generally horizontally and disposed in an arcuate array2; 5h 49/02 Dozh 5 3 5/08 about a focal take-off element. Multiplearcuate arrays 1 o N are disposed in staggered back-to-back relation toI develop close packing of the arrays and provide a creel which effectsa substantial saving of space while [561 References cued simultaneouslyexposing each of the spool holders for UN STATES PATENTS rleady accessfor loading spools of filamentary matter t ereon. 2,429,798 10/1947Bradnack et al ..242/ B1 3,452,947 7/1969 Thurman, ..242/131 13 Claims,8 Drawing Figures PATENTED 2 I 7 3.690.586

SHEET 1 or 7 INVENTOR. Elm er E. Bock ATTORNEYS.

PKTE'N'TEDSEP 12 I972 SHEET 2 (IF 7 ATTORNEYS.

PKTENTEDsEP 12 m2 SHEET 3 0F 7 T INVENTOR. J Elmer E. Bock W a IATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDsEP 12 I972 I 3.690.586

' sum u or 7 INVENTOR. Elmer E. Bock Il BY f g Arronu'sr.

PATENIEDsmz I972 3.690.586 sum 5 or 7 INVENTOR.

BY Elmer E. Back I Z %wf ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDSEP 12 Ian SHEET 5 [IF 7 INVENTOR. Elmer E. Bock BY Z Z I 6mr/Q;

Arromvsrs.

PATENTEDsEP 12 m2 3.690.586 sum 1 or 1 INVENTOR. Elmer E Bock ATTORNEYS.

be fed to the textile machine for fabrication of the product. The usualtextile machine simultaneously utilizes several hundred yarns(frequently termed ends in the art). To assure continuous feeding of ayarn to the machine and avoid interruption of the manufacturing process,many facilities have creels with spools arranged in pairs so that as theyarn from one spool of the pair is expended, a second spool of the pair,the yarn of which has been tied tothe end of the yarn of the firstspool, will be utilized. It is then possible to keep the creel loaded atall times by replacing the expended spool with one full spool and tyingtogether the yarns of the two spools. It is desired, therefore, that thecreel occupy a minimum of space and that its construction permit readyloading of the spools of' filamentary matter into the creel while yarnsare being paid out from the creel to the machine.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a creelwhich occupies limited space while providing ready accessability to thecreel for-loading of spools of filamentary matter therein. It is afurther object of this invention to provide a creel which may beinexpensively manufactured and easily assembled as a sturdy, stationarystructure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunctionwith the Y accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan top view of one embodiment of a creelincluding various features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the creel depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the creel depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan top view of figuration;

FIG. 5 is a representation of the disclosed creel including a workingplatform;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan top view of afurther embodiment of a creelincluding various features of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan top view of a still further embodiment of acreel including various features of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan top view of a still further embodiment of acreel including various features of the present invention.

The creel disclosed herein comprises one or more take-off elements andone or more upright standards supporting a plurality of spool holders atvarious vertical levels with the spool holders extending generallyhorizontally to receive spools of filamentary matter thereon. Eachtake-off element serves as the focus for an arcuate or semicirculararray of spool holders thereabout, each spool holder of an array beingoriented generally along a radius of the array so that one spool bracketconfilaments paid out from the several spool holders in an array aredirected to the focal take-off element. Further, multiple arcuate arraysare disposed in staggered back-to-back relation to develop close packingof the arrays and thereby provide a creel which effects a substantialsaving of space while simultaneously exposing each of the spool holdersfor ready access for loading of spools of yarn thereon. Multiplevertical levels of semicircular arrays of spool holders associated witheach take-off element provide efiicient utilization of each unit offloor space occupied by the creel unit. 1

The preferred creel 8, depicted in top view in FIG. 1, comprises astructural framework 9 which is of generally rectangular configurationand includes a plurality of upright standards 10 disposed in equallyspaced apart locations in two staggered rows running along the length ofthe creel and within the framework. Each upright standard 10advantageously comprises a length of metal tubing or rod secured'in anupright position as by being welded to transverse structural members 12and 14 extending between longitudinal structural members 16 and 18 atthe top and bottom, respectively, of the creel. In addition tosupporting the upright standards, the transverse and longitudinalstructural elements impart rigidity to the creel.

Each upright standard 10 preferably receives at a given vertical levelon the standard, three generally U- shaped brackets 20, 22, 24positioned apart from each other around the standard 10 and referred toherein at times as a tripartite bracket group. One suitable type ofbracket, as depicted in FIG. 1, comprises a continuous rod appropriatelybent to define a generally U-shape wherein the leg portions 26, 28 areintegrally joined to the opposite ends of a base portion 30 which isbent centrally thereof as proper to accommodate the positioning of threesuch brackets about the circumference of the standard. In one embodimentof the bracket 20, for example, where the base portion 30 is about 19inches long and the leg portions 26, 28 are each about 8 inches long,the-base portion is bent to define an angle of about but this angle maybe increased or decreased by several degrees, consistent with the meansused to secure the bracket to its standard l0 and serve as the point ofattachment between the bracket and standard. The legs 26, 28 of thebracket 20 extend from the standard 10in a generally horizontal plane toreceive a spool 32 of filamentary matter on each leg, the angle definedat the joinder 34 of each leg portion to the base portion of the bracketbeing chosen to align the leg portion toward a take-off element 36 aswill be described further hereinafter. For the bracket dimensionsrecitedin the above example, each leg portion forms an angle of about 100 withits respective portion of the base of the bracket. It will be recognizedthat this latter angle is also dependent upon the distance between thebracket and the respective take-off element in that each leg portion isbent such as will cause it to be directed toward such take-off elementas will appear more fully hereinafter.

Preferably, each bracket 20 is fixedly secured to its respectivestandard 10 as by welding thereby insuring that the bracket remains inits preferred position at all times. This desired rigidity of thebracket is enhanced by joining the several brackets 20, 22, 24 locatedat a given vertical level around a standard 10 one to 3 a another at thepoints 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40 where their respective bases are joined totheir respective leg portions as depicted in FIG. 1. Alternatively, theseveral brackets at a given vertical level are secured to a sleeve 46(see FIG. 4) which is fitted around the standard and secured in positionby welding or by set screw means 48 to impart height adjustability tothe brackets. Also depicted in FIG. 4 is an alternative bracketconstruction wherein the base portion 84, 86, 88 of the three brackets78, 80, 82 are integrally formed.

In the preferred creel, the structural framework 9 also includes aplurality of take-off elements 36 for receiving yarns 50 from the spools32 and directing them to a textile machine or the like (not shown). Eachtake-offelement 36 preferably includes one or more eyeboards 52, 53,55having openings through which individual yarns 50 are fed to be receivedin individual tubes 54 which lead to the textile machine. As will bediscussed thereinafter, the yarns 50 are withdrawn from the spools 32 atdifierent vertical levels for space economy-reasons. The preferredtake-off element 36, therefore, comprises an elongated channel 56secured in an upright position generally parallel to the Standards 10.One or both of the side margins 58,60 of the channel 56 support theeyeboards 52, 53, and 55 which preferably extend from the top to thebottom of the upright channel. Openings at vertically spaced locationson the eyeboards serve to receive the yarns 50 and direct them into thetubes 54 as noted above thereby insuring that the several yarns donotbecome entangledone with another .when passing from their respectivespools to the textile machine. The take-off elements 36 are disposed atthe side margins of the creel 8 and intermediate adjacent uprightstandards 10 and 13 of the row nearest that side of the creel where thestandards 10 and 13 are located. Because the rows of standards arestaggered, a given take-off element 36 is also disposed opposite astandard 11 of that row furtherest therefrom. Takeoff elements 36 areprovided on both sides of the creel and therefore there is a take-offelement opposite each standard but on that side of the creel furtherestfrom the standard.

The tripartite bracket groups 62, 64, 66, for example, on three adjacentstandards 10, 11, 13, irrespective of their row, are grouped abouta-take-off element 36 with each leg 26, 28, of each bracket of a group62 being directed generally toward the take-ofl element 36 therebyplacing the tripartite bracket groups 62, 64, 66 in a semicircular arrayabout the take-ofl' element 36 when viewed from the top of the creel. Byvirtue of their 120 spacing about their respective standard, one bracket20 of each combination of three brackets (or two brackets in certain endlocations of a creel) at a given vertical level on a standard 10cooperates with one bracket 20a, 20b, from each of two other standards11, 13, respectively, in defining the arcuate or semicircular array. Thestaggered rows of standards (with attached brackets) thus permitsstaggered back-to-back arranging of semicircular arrays, with a givenstandard and its several brackets at a given vertical level being a partof three adjacent semicircular arrays as may be seen in FIG. 1, therebyadvantageously utilizing fully the available space within the creelframework and permitting the storage of more spools per unit area ofcreel at a given vertical level in the creel.

Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, it is seen that theseveral brackets 20, 20a, 20b of a given semicircular array need not alllie in the same horizontal plane, but rather, when the full spools ofyarn are larger in diameter than can be accommodated by the spacingbetween adjacent bracket legs consistentwith the desired efficientutilization of space, the central bracket 20a of a given grouping(array) is displaced vertically a relatively short distance 'on itsrespective standard 11 to permit some overlapping of the spools andthereby more effectively utilizing the available space within the creel.Alternatively, the lateral spacing between the standards, hence thebracket spacing, is increased to accommodate the spools, but this latterarrangement results in wasted space within the creel, hence lesseffective utilization of the available space.

As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the preferred creel, each uprightstandard has brackets secured thereto at multiple vertical levels alongthe length thereof creating several semicircular arraysof spools pereach given area of floor space occupied by the creel. The number ofvertical levels which are obtainable depends primari ly upon theavailable, height in the building which houses the creel and theanticipated size of the full spools of yarn, it being necessary thatadjacent spools not interfere with the feeding of yarn from each other.

Notably, each semicircular array of bracket legs opens outwardly towardthe side margin of the creel thereby exposing the bracket legs for readyaccessibility for loading new full spools of yarn thereon. Contrary toknown prior art creels, in the illustrated creel, an operator is notrequired to move any part of the creel, such as swinging a leg outwardlyto gain access to it, in order to remove an empty spool or insert a fullspool. In loading the illustrated creel, the operator has ready accessto all the spool positions at the several vertical levels from aposition adjacent a focal take-off element. When loading spools toone-half of a semicircular array, the yarns of the remaining half of thearray are neither disturbed by the operator nor are they a hindrance tohis loading activities. The ease of loading without interference withyarns already in position is enhanced by positioning the central one 20aof the three brackets in a given array at a higher (or lower) verticallevel than the flanking brackets 20, 20b of the array in that suchraising (or lowering) of the central bracket moves it and its spoolsabove the flanking brackets and their spools to give the operatorlateral operating space in gaining access to the spools of the centralbracket. There are no moving parts in the disclosed creel therebyfacilitating the loading and unloading of spools therefrom andsimultaneously enhancing the rigidity and useful life of the creel.

Individual relatively smaller creels 68, 70, 72 are combined to providea larger creel 74 having a greater overall capacity as illustrated inFIG. 5. Walkways 76 provided at appropriate vertical levels permit anoperator to gain access to brackets located at vertical levels abovethat which can be reached from floor level and permit the creel to beextended to any reasonable height. By reason of their generallyrectangular configuration, the individual creels are readily positionedin side-by-side relation thereby permitting a single walkwaytherebetween to serve adjacent creels and reduce the construction costof the creel as well as conserve floor space.

In accordance with a further aspect of the illustrated I creel, thedistance which the yarn travels from its spool to the eyeboard is.increased over related prior art creels. Across this distance the yarnis unsupported and as it is withdrawn from the spool it moves along agenerally helical path' in a whip-like. looping motion. When theunsupported length of the yarn is too short, excessive tension isdeveloped and yarn breakage is frequent. Excessively long unsupportedyarn lengths often result in entanglement with adjacent yarns withaccompanying yarn breakage and expensive down-time of the textilemachine while the yarns are being rethreaded. In the present creel, theunsupported length of each yarn is greater than in related prior artcreels thereby reducing the breakage of the yarn due to excessivetension during withdrawal, yet there is a saving of space of as muchas40- percent over such related prior art creels.

By simultaneously expanding the distances between the upright standardsin the two staggered rows of a creel, the illustrated creel isexpandable to accommodate larger, more bulky spools of yarn or pulled infor receiving smaller diameter spools as dictated by a particulartextile machine or woven product. Normally, this interstandard spacingis established at the time of installation of a creel and is not changedthereafter. The disclosed creel design, however, is amenable to any ofseveral sizes of spools by merelyexpanding the dimensions of the creeland without altering the basic design thereof.

The semicircular arraying of six spools of yarn provide the furtheradvantage of having available one, two or five standby spools for eachneedle of the textile machine in that, in a given array, there are sixadjacent spools which may be tied together to feed a given needle. Thisfeature of the invention is particularly useful when supplying yarn tothe so-called shag carpet machines where each needle stroke may consumeas much as 5 or 6 inches of yarn and a single spool of yarn is veryquickly depleted.

With reference to FIG. 6, the present creel contemplates the inclusionof more than six spools of yarn per arcuate array. As illustrated,brackets 100, 102 and 104 secured at a first vertical level on standards106, 108 and 110, respectively, are combined with brackets 112, 114 and116 secured at a second vertical level on standards 106, 108 and 110,respectively, to form an arcuate array of twelve yarn supports about acentral take-off element 118.

Notably, in the creel illustrated in FIG. 6, the generally U-shapedbrackets 100, 100a and of the tripartite bracket grouping 120 at a givenvertical level on a standard 106 are disposed at positions 120 apartaround the standard in a like manner as illustrated in FIG. 1. Theindividual generally U-shaped brackets in FIG. 6, however, are bent intheir respective base portions 112 at a point located about one-third ofthe distance of the length of the base portion 122 thereby dividing thebase portion into two lengths, 124, 126, and about twice the length ofthe other. As illustrated, the shorter part of the bracket base portion124 preferably is disposed nearest the standard 110 and the bracket isjoined to the standard at the point 128 where the base portion is bent.This arrangement positions one end 130 of each bracket adjacent thelonger length 132 of the base portion 134 of one of the other brackets104 of the tripartite grouping thereby permitting the desired separationof the brackets of a tripartite grouping about a standard and providingfor the combining of the brackets from multiple vertical levels about agiven focal take-off element 118 and thereby increasing the total numberof spool holders per each arcuate array.

A still further embodiment for mounting a plurality of brackets 140, 142and 144 in an arcuate or generally semicircular array 146 about a focaltake-off element 148 is depicted in FIG. 7. In this latter Figure, anarcuate bar 150 is secured in a generally horizontal position at aselected vertical level preferably on a pair of upright standards 152and 154. Alternatively, an arcuate bar or the like is substituted forthe channel. In any event, the several brackets 140, 142 and 144 aresupported in their generally horizontal positions with their respectiveleg portions extending radially toward the focal take-off element 148.Further, several arcuate channels 150, 156 and 158'are disposed instaggered back-to-back relation to develop close packing and efficientutilization of space to effect the desired saving of space andsimultaneously providing ready access to the spool holders for loadingof the creel.

A further embodiment of the disclosed creel is depicted in FIG. 8. Asillustrated in this Figure, the spool holders 160 are secured in thedesired arcuate array, with the individual spool holders being orientedalong a radius of the array, by means of an arcuate channel 162 orsimilar arcuate mounting means and directed radially toward a focaltake-off element 164 as described hereinbefore. In this illustratedembodiment, as well as the embodiment of FIG. 7, there is less stabilityof the spool holders in that they are provided with less support than inother illustrated embodiments. The embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8,however, are suitable in many instances, particularly where the spoolsof yarn are of relatively low weight.

While several embodiments have been shown and described, it will beunderstood that there is no intent to limit the invention by suchdisclosure, but, rather, it is intended to cover all modifications andalternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A creel for holding a plurality of spools of filamentary matter woundthereon in position for pay out of said filamentary matter from saidspools comprising a plurality of take-off elements, a plurality of spoolholders, and mounting means securing said spool holders in a pluralityof generally arcuate arrays about said take-off elements, said spoolholders extending generally horizontally from said mounting means andbeing disposed generally radially of said arcuate array, said pluralityof arcuate arrays being disposed in generally staggered back-to-backrelation with their respective take-off elements disposed outwardly ofsaid creel thereby exposing said spool holders for ready access theretofor loading spools thereon.

2. A creel for holding a plurality of spools having filamentary matterwound thereon in position for pay out of said filamentary matter fromsaid spools comprising a structural framework including a plurality ofupright standards, a plurality of brackets for receiving said spools,each of said brackets comprising a generally U- shaped member secured toa standard in positions spaced about 120 apart around said standard at agiven vertical level thereon, each of said brackets having its-baseoriented toward said standard and having its leg portions extendingfromsaid standard ina generally horizontal direction to present the legportions of said bracket in position to receive said spools, saidbrackets on adjacent standards cooperating to define a generallysemicircular array of bracket legs, each of said bracket legs of anarray being directed generally along a radius of .said semicirculararray, and a take-off element disposed inclose proximity to the focus ofeach of said semicircular arrays for receiving said filamentary matterfrom said spools of the respective array.

3. The creel of claim 2 wherein each of said semicircular arraysincludes three brackets, eachsof which contributes two leg portions tothe array for receiving a maximum of six spools of yarn per array.

4. The creel ofclaim 2 wherein each of said U- shaped brackets isfixedly secured to its respective standard in the approximate center ofthe base portion of said bracket.

5. The creel of claim 4 wherein said brackets are joined one to anotherat their respective joinders between their respective base portions andtheir respective leg portions.

6. The creel of claim 2 wherein each bracket grouping comprises threebrackets and only one bracket of each tripartite group of bracketsaround a standard cooperates with only one bracket of each of two othertripartite groups of brackets on two adjacent standards to define asemicircular array comprising three brackets.

7. The creel of claim 6 including a plurality of semicircular arraysdisposed in staggered back-to-back relationship with alternate arraysopening outwardly toward opposite sides of said creel.

8. The creel of claim 2 including a plurality of tripartite bracketgroups disposed atdifferent vertical levels along each standard therebydeveloping a plurality of vertically spaced semicircular arrays per eachgiven unit of horizontal area occupied by said creel.

9. In a creel for storing spools of yarn for feeding to a textilemachine, the improvement comprising a bracket for receiving a pair ofspools of yarn, said bracketcomprising a generally U-shaped elongatedmember having a central base portion and a leg portion integrallyformedwith each of the ends of said base portion, said base portionbeing bent to define an angle of about 130, and wherein each of said legportions extends from its respective end of said base portion to definean angle of about between said leg portion and its respective end ofsaid base portion.

10. The improved creel of claim 9 including a plurality of uprightstandards, each of which receives at a given vertical level thereon aplurality of said brackets at positions spaced about apart around saidstandard, the central base portion of each of said brackets facing saidstandard and the leg portions of said brackets extending from saidstandard in a generally horizontal direction.

11. The improved creel of claim 9 wherein the adjacent base portions ofeach of said brackets spaced around said standard at a given verticallevel are joined one to other.

12. e improved creel of claim 9 wherein the adjacent base portions ofeach of said brackets spaced around said standard at a given verticallevel are integrally formed one to another.

13. The improved creel of claim 10 wherein said bracket includes acentral sleeve to which is fixedly securedthe base portion of each ofsaid plurality of brackets, said sleeve being adapted to encircle one ofsaid standards and secure said attached brackets at a given verticallevelon said standard.

1. A creel for holding a plurality of spools of filamentary matter woundthereon in position for pay out of said filamentary matter from saidspools comprising a plurality of take-off elements, a plurality of spoolholders, and mounting means securing said spool holders in a pluralityof generally arcuate arrays about said take-off elements, said spoolholders extending generally horizontally from said mounting means andbeing disposed generally radially of said arcuate array, said pluralityof arcuate arrays being disposed in generally staggered back-tobackrelation with their respective take-off elements disposed outwardly ofsaid creel thereby exposing said spool holders for ready access theretofor loading spools thereon.
 2. A creel for holding a plurality of spoolshaving filamentary matter wound thereon in position for pay out of saidfilamentary matter from said spools comprising a structural frameworkincluding a plurality of upright standards, a plurality of brackets forreceiving said spools, each of said brackets comprising a generallyU-shaped member secured to a standard in positions spaced about 120*apart around said standard at a given vertical level thereon, each ofsaid brackets having its base oriented toward said standard and havingits leg portions extending from said standard in a generally horizontaldirection to present the leg portions of said bracket in position toreceive said spools, said brackets on adjacent standards cooperating todefine a generally semicircular array of bracket legs, each of saidbracket legs of an array being directed generally along a radius of saidsemicircular array, and a take-off element disposed in close proximityto the focus of each of said semicircular arrays for receiving saidfilamentary matter from said spools of the respective array.
 3. Thecreel of claim 2 wherein each of said semicircular arrays includes threebrackets, each of which contributes two leg portions to the array forreceiving a maximum of six spools of yarn per array.
 4. The creel ofclaim 2 wherein each of said U-shaped brackets is fixedly secured to itsrespective standard in the approximate center of the base portion ofsaid bracket.
 5. The creel of claim 4 wherein said brackets are joinedone to another at their respective joinders between their respectivebase portions and their respective leg portions.
 6. The creel of claim 2wherein each bracket grouping comprises three brackets and only onebracket of each tripartite group of brackets around a standardcooperates with only one bracket of each of two other tripartite groupsof brackets on two adjacent standards to define a semicircular arraycomprising three brackets.
 7. The creel of claim 6 including a pluralityof semicircular arrays disposed in staggered back-to-back relationshipwith alternate arrays opening outwardly toward opposite sides of saidcreel.
 8. The creel of claim 2 including a plurality of tripartitebracket groups disposed at different vertical levels along each standardthereby developing a plurality of vertically spaced semicircular arraysper each given unit of horizontal area occupied by said creel.
 9. In acreel for storing spools of yarn for feeding to a textile machine, theimprovement comprising a bracket for receiving a pair of spoOls of yarn,said bracket comprising a generally U-shaped elongated member having acentral base portion and a leg portion integrally formed with each ofthe ends of said base portion, said base portion being bent to define anangle of about 130*, and wherein each of said leg portions extends fromits respective end of said base portion to define an angle of about 100*between said leg portion and its respective end of said base portion.10. The improved creel of claim 9 including a plurality of uprightstandards, each of which receives at a given vertical level thereon aplurality of said brackets at positions spaced about 120* apart aroundsaid standard, the central base portion of each of said brackets facingsaid standard and the leg portions of said brackets extending from saidstandard in a generally horizontal direction.
 11. The improved creel ofclaim 9 wherein the adjacent base portions of each of said bracketsspaced around said standard at a given vertical level are joined one toanother.
 12. The improved creel of claim 9 wherein the adjacent baseportions of each of said brackets spaced around said standard at a givenvertical level are integrally formed one to another.
 13. The improvedcreel of claim 10 wherein said bracket includes a central sleeve towhich is fixedly secured the base portion of each of said plurality ofbrackets, said sleeve being adapted to encircle one of said standardsand secure said attached brackets at a given vertical level on saidstandard.